**Kael's POV**
The grand chamber was silent except for the faint crackle of the fire in the hearth. I sat beside Seraphina, my eyes fixed on her pale face. She lay motionless, her breathing shallow. The sight of her in such a vulnerable state made my heart tighten painfully. The blade she had wielded earlier rested on a nearby table, its once brilliant edge dull and coated with a residue of dark magic.
The physician stood a few feet away, his expression grave. "She's lost a lot of blood," he said, his voice thick with concern. "But there are no visible wounds, which is a concern. This isn't a physical injury."
My brows furrowed. "She wasn't injured. She only fought with the elder briefly earlier. How can she lose so much blood without a single wound?"
The physician hesitated, before replying. "I can only stabilize her for now, but....this, this is beyond my expertise. I recommend consulting a sorcerer. This may be tied to magic, something far beyond my knowledge."
I don't need convincing. Without wasting time, I summoned the kingdom's most skilled sorcerer. Within an hour, a woman cloaked in deep red robes arrived, her presence commanding and her sharp gaze assessing Seraphina.
The sorcerer extended her hands over Seraphina, her Palms glowing as she muttered incantations. Moments later, she pulled back abruptly, her expression grim. "She used dark magic," the sorcerer announced, her voice laced with awe and warning.
"I know," I said tightly. "But why would that cause her to lose a lot of blood."
The sorcerer’s lips pressed into a thin line. “Dark magic of this nature doesn’t draw solely on external energy. It feeds on the caster’s life force. Each time she wields it, she sacrifices a piece of herself. If she continues, her life span will shorten drastically.”
My fist clenched, my heart sinking like a stone. "Is there any way to reverse this? To heal her?"
"There's no way to reverse the damage already done," the sorcerer said gravely. "But she can preserve herself by refraining from using the magic entirely. Otherwise...” She let the silence hang heavy, the unspoken words louder than anything she could say.
I nodded, dismissing the sorcerer with a terse, "Thank you." My thoughts were chaotic as I returned to Seraphina's side, my gaze fixed on her delicate form. The idea of losing her—of watching her destroy herself with every battle—was unbearable.
Moments later, Seraphina stirred awake. "Seraphina,” I murmured, relief surging through me as I gently brushed a strand of hair from her face.
Her eyes fluttered open, meeting my troubled gaze. "Kael," she muttered, her voice weak but steady.
"You’re awake,” I said softly. I could feel the tension in my shoulders easing slightly. “How do you feel?”
"Tired," she admitted, attempting to sit up. "I placed a firm hand on her shoulder, guiding her back down.
"You need to rest," I insisted.
"I'll rest later," she said, her determination flickering to life. "What happened to the Elder? Did we stop him?
"He fled," I said bitterly. "But that isn't what matters right now?"
"What do you mean?" She asked, her brows knitting in confusion.
I took a deep breath, my voice calm but firm. "You can't use magic anymore, Sera. It's killing you. The sorcerer explained everything—it’s draining your life force. Every time you use it, you are shortening your life span."
Her expression hardened. “Kael, I have to. The Elder is still out there, and he won’t stop until he destroys us. I can’t just sit back and do nothing.”
“You don’t understand,” I said, my frustration bubbling to the surface. “This isn’t just about the Elder. It’s about you. If you keep using this magic, you won’t survive. I can’t watch you destroy yourself, Seraphina.”
“You think I don’t know the risks?” she shot back, her voice rising. “But what choice do I have? And do you think I'm afraid of death? What I'm afraid of, is watching the people I love get destroyed by him. If I don’t fight him, who will? You? The guards? None of you can stand against his power. I’m the only one who can stop him.”
My jaw tightened as my temper flared. "And what happens when you are gone? What happens to the people you're trying to protect? Do you think sacrificing yourself will be enough?"
She sat up, her eyes blazing with defiance. "I'm not sacrificing myself. I'm doing what needs to be done. If you don't understand that, maybe you don't know me enough."
Her words cut through me like a blade as I took a step back, my expression a mix of hurt and anger. "Maybe I don't know you," I said coldly. "Because the Seraphina I thought I know will not throw her life away recklessly."
The tension hanging between us was suffocating, and Seraphina looked away, her hands clenching the bedsheet. “If you can’t support me in this, then leave. I’ll fight this battle alone if I have to.”
My heart ached, but my frustration wouldn’t allow me to speak. I turned on my heel and left the room, slamming the door behind me.
Hours later, I returned to her chambers. His heavy had cooled, replaced by guilt and a heavy weight of regret. Seraphina was awake, sitting by the window side with her back turned to me.
“Seraphina,” I began, my voice softer this time.
She didn’t turn, but her shoulders tensed. “What do you want, Kael?”
"I want to apologize," I said sincerely. "I shouldn't have spoken to you like that. I just...I can't stand the thought of you."
She turned to me, her expression weary but no longer angry. "I know you’re scared, Kael. But so am I. And the only way I know how to fight that fear is to face it head-on.”
I crossed the room, taking her hand in mine. "Then let me face it with you. Let me protect you, Sera. You don't have to do this alone."
Her eyes softened, and she nodded. "We'll do it, together."
Relief flooded me, and I held her close, savoring the warmth of her presence. For a moment, the world outside faded, leaving only the two of us.
Pulling back slightly, I looked into her eyes, my heart pounding as I made a decision I had been contemplating for weeks.
"Seraphina," I called, my voice calm but steady with emotions. "Marry me."
Her eyes widened as she looked at me, speechless. "Kael..."
"I know the timing isn't perfect," I began quickly. " But I can't imagine my life without you. With you, everything feels right. I want to stand by you, through every challenge, every battle as your husband."
Tears filled her eyes as she smiled, her voice trembling with emotion. “Yes,” she said. “Yes, I’ll marry you.”
I pulled her into a deep embrace, my heart soaring. For the first time in what felt like an eternity, hope filled the room, shining brighter than any darkness that threatened to consume us.